Are You Thinking About Adopting a Child?
You're in the right place
Our team at Extra Special Parents (ESP) is here to support you every step of your journey to adopt a child from foster care. Join us for free foster-to-adopt monthly training and orientation sessions. Prospective parents must fulfill foster care training requirements before adopting children through the foster care program. The same is true for parents who wish to provide temporary foster care for children not eligible for adoption.
Fostering or adopting youth in foster care requires the same training, readiness, and background checks. Foster parents provide short-term foster home care until foster children can return home to their birth parents. We call the process of rejoining a foster child's family of origin "reunification."
However, many kids who enter foster care services cannot return to their biological parents or other family members. These foster children and youth become eligible for adoption. Foster families adopt about 70% of Virginia foster kids. Foster-to-adopt parents become long-term forever families to children and youth.
During these five sessions of adoptive and foster parent training, you'll learn about the foster care process in Virginia. Completing all five sessions is part of fulfilling state foster-to-adopt requirements. Training will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for this vital role as you adopt a child from foster care in Virginia.
Joining ESP means you'll be part of a group of foster and adoptive parents with peer and professional support for one another. Thank you for trusting ESP as your foster-to-adopt guide and resource. You'll have a dedicated clinical specialist at ESP to make the process clear and straightforward. We aim to ensure you understand each stage...all the way to finding the right match for your family.
Together, we make life-changing impacts to create bright futures for our foster children and their families.
Schedule Today
State training requirements are the same for both foster and adoptive parents. See our online Training Calendar below or review session-by-session summaries for foster-to-adopt parent training. Give us a call to schedule a free, no-obligation orientation or talk to an adoptive parent advocate. When you're ready, we can also help you schedule each training session or event RSVP.
Welcome to foster-to-adopt parent training with Extra Special Parents -- We're thrilled you’re here! During these sessions, you'll gain amazing skills and learn how to navigate the Virginia foster-to-adopt process. You'll leave with the knowledge you need to successfully begin your adoptive parenting journey.
Please take a moment to review the training session outline and session dates below. You can ask questions or enroll in a free session with an ESP advocate here.
SESSION 1:
Orientation is the opening session with Extra Special Parents (ESP), your Licensed Child Placement Agency (LCPA). At ESP, you'll meet child and parent advocates and specialists integral to our strength-based, trauma-focused agency.
Orientation will explain how the U.S. and Virginia foster care systems work. You'll learn how and why children enter foster care and how many become eligible for adoption. Training will explore the impact of child abuse and neglect on children's physical and mental health. This stage will highlight the importance of stability in children's lives, achieving "permanence" through the child welfare system.
SESSION 2:
Grief and loss are powerful emotions for foster children separated from their birth families and familiar spaces. You'll complete this session with the knowledge and tools to help children process their emotions and behaviors around separation. You'll learn strategies to nurture a child's developing identity while respecting their birth family connections.
SESSION 3:
Youth development and behavior interventions are the training focal points of this mid-point session. Learn effective strategies for managing challenging behaviors through each age and stage of child development. The education and tools from this segment focus on building strong parent-child relationships. Our goal is to train parents to nurture resilience in children who have experienced trauma.
SESSION 4:
Virginia maintains regulatory standards for all facets of foster child care, including foster-to-adopt families. This session covers maintaining a safe, nurturing home environment that is in compliance with these standards. Topics include confidentiality requirements and social media guidelines, among others, designed to provide knowledge and support resources on your adoptive family journey.
SESSION 5:
The final session focuses on understanding the impacts of trauma and how to support foster youth of all ages. We will teach trauma-informed parenting techniques that will reframe your view of common child behaviors. You'll learn to spot signs, report abuse, and use new tools to help children. We'll also emphasize the importance of self-care and respite for you, the foster-to-adopt parent.
Thank you again for partnering with ESP to make a difference in the lives of Virginia’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are creating bright tomorrows and strong forever families. We are here to answer questions or help you enroll in orientation today to begin your incredible family journey!
Can't make a training session or need to make special arrangements?
Life happens, and we're here to help. Evening and day sessions are scheduled every month. If you cannot attend one or more, simply let your foster advocate know what you need, and we'll arrange an alternate schedule for you. We also offer weekend training every quarter.
On average, it takes 120 days to complete the process of becoming a foster-to-adopt parent so you can welcome a child into your home. We are here to support you every step of the way...even when life circumstances conspire.
For more information about the process, including background checks, the Home Study, and other common questions, please browse our blog or contact an advocate anytime.
Book time your way with your esp Foster-to-adopt Advocate.
Book an appointment today
ESP foster-to-adopt specialists and advocates are here to assist and support you and your family 24/7.
We understand the weight of the questions you may be contemplating as you decide if adopting a foster child is right for you. If you already know it's right, you may still wonder what the process entails or how long it will take. Our adoptive parent advocates are here to provide the information and resources you need to make the best decisions for you and your family today and in the future. We are also here to help make the best match with a child who will thrive as part of your family.
Life-changing decisions are a balancing act of anticipation, practical steps toward meeting requirements, and settling into a new family life with resources and support. Every stage brings feelings of excitement and vulnerability. As your partners, we're here to educate, listen, and support you. We aim to ensure Virginia's foster children and their forever families have everything they need to go boldly, confidently, and successfully into their futures together.
Meet our advocates!
Adasha Holdren, Lead Family AdvocateAdasha brings families over a decade of experience with Virginia’s foster care system, with 8+ of her most recent years dedicated to supporting parents and children along their adoption journey. She is passionate about helping parents navigate every step of their adoption process, ensuring a seamless and positive experience as families connect and build their new lives together. Adasha's understanding of the unique joys and challenges of fostering-to-adopt gives her the experienced perspective to guide families with genuine and compassionate care.
Ashlin Bayne, Family AdvocateAshlin brings extensive caseworker experience to her families, guiding them through the foster-to-adopt journey with empathy and care. She walks parents through the detailed process of becoming a new family, recognizing the co-existing excitement and vulnerability inherent in every adoption decision. Bringing passion and expertise to ensure a seamless experience, Ashlin supports parents in realizing their dreams of creating a loving forever family.
Kareena DaRosa, Family AdvocateKareena is a seasoned expert in foster-to-adoption. She guides adoptive parents through the approval and licensing process, sharing her deep understanding of the complex considerations that impact each individual family member. Kareena brings her skilled navigation to unique family circumstances, ensuring a smooth path on this emotional journey to create a loving, permanent home for a child. Kareena’s expertise and personal passion make her an invaluable resource to our Extra Special Parents and families.
Melissa Gish, Family AdvocateMelissa's 10+ years of dedicated experience includes a strong and diverse background in mental health, program development, and management. Her deep understanding of the complexities involved in foster care fuels her passion for bringing successful families together. Melissa guides adoptive families through every step of the foster-to-adopt process. She is committed to empowering foster youth transitioning to independent living and takes a seasoned approach to helping families adopt older children and teens. She brings compassionate care to her support of new adopters and the foster teens and youth they embrace as family.